Corn-popping machine



July 7, 1925.

Nl B. PosT CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2s. 1924 s sheets-skien' 1 ya.mamy

July 7, 1925.

N. B. POST coRN POPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28. 1924 July 7, 1925.1,545,063

N. B. POST CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Feb, 28. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet I5@J7/D I O OO July 7, 1925. 1,545,063

' N. B. POST CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2 8. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4N. B. POST coRN POPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28. 1924 July 7, 1925.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 z' foy c OOO O l l Patented `luly 7, 1925.

UNI-'TED STAT ES P ATE NT OFFICE..

NATI-IANIEL B. POST, DECEASED, LATE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; BY CLARENCE A.POST, ADMINISTRATOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRACKER JACKC0., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

CO'RN-POPPING MACHINE.

Application led February 28, 1924. Serial No. 695,840.

To all whom t may concer/t.

Be it known that NA'rHANinL B. Pos'r, deceased, who was a citizen of thelinited States, and a resident of the city of (`hi cago, county of (ook,and State of Illinois, had, during his lifetime, invented certain newand useful Improvements in Corn- Popping Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to corn popping machines, and more particularlyto the rotary cylinder type having means for continuously separating thepopped from the unpopped corn and for continuously delivering saidpopped corn.

An object of the invention is to provide such a machine vvith means forgradually and continuously feeding the corn through the machine, inorder to heat it gradually and to continuously and speedily dischargethe popped corn.

Another object is to provide means for speedily delivering all poppedcorn directly upon popping, in order to avoid scorching or injuring thesame.

Another object is to provide a plurality of preliminary heating andpopping cylinders and a main popping` cylinder, all having a pluralityof compartments to give the corn a gradual, step by step. forwardmovement through the machine and effect a gradual and complete heatingand popping thereof.

Another object is to provide a preliminary popping chamber in the mainpopping cylinder with means therein for picking up and separating thepopped corn from the unpopped corn and delivering it directly, centrallyinto a delivery tuhe for rapid discharge from the machine.

Another object is to provide means in the main popping cylinder of themachine for constantly and speedily picking up the popped corn anddelivering it into a central delivery tube. away from the main heat atthe surface of the cylinder, and at the same time leading the unpoppcdcorn along the outer ivall of the cylinder close to the strongest heat.

And another object is'to provide a plurality of pick-up means,especially adapted for large cylinders, for gathering the popped cornand to provide a delivery tuhe having means for receiving said poppedcorn from saldi pick-up means and rapidly discharging the same. i

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter de: scribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood` by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and 1n which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the re.- ceiving and delivering endy ofthe popping machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevational vien7 of the opposite end thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the Inachine, taken on line 3 3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken across the main popping cylinder, online 4- 4 of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken across the preliminary chamber of themain cylinder, on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the feeding mechanism, taken online 6 6 of Fig.

Fig'. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the feeding pockets ofthe feeding mechanism, taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed section of the preliminary heatingcylinder, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 9 is a cross section of a modified form of popping cylinder, takensubstantially in the same position as Fig. 4:.

The form of invention illustrated in the drawings includes a machinecasing or housing consisting of three separable parts, a lower part 15supported on standards 16 and extending to the axis of the main poppingcylinder. an intermediate part 17 extending to the axis of thepreliminary popping and heating cylinders, and an upper part or hood 18which is provided with outlets 19 on the top for the escape of heat.

Inspection openings 15 and 17 are provided at the upper edges of thesides, ad-` jacent the ends, of parts 15 and 17, respectively, forinspecting the interior mechanism of the machine and for providing readyaccess thereto.

Tvvo preliminary heating cylinders or preheaters 21 and 21 are used forthe average size popping machine, for gradually heating the corn to thepopping stage, but more than two preliminary heaters may he used inlarge machines. and only one may suttiee tor a sniall machine. The eornmay be gradually heated to the popping stage in these cylinders and niayalso he heated beyond the initial popping stage and to any poppi pdegree, as will he explained hereafter. 'lhese preliminary heatingcylinders are formed of line ineshed Wire gauze and eaf'n has a headfastened with a spider 23 upon a shatt 24, and a head 25 Yfastened onsaid shaft with a hraelet iid. Said shaft is journaled in bearings 27and which are provided on cross hars and 30 fastened to the upper edgeol' the ii'iterinediate part t? ot the easing.

luaeh ot the heating cylinders is divided hy means ot Cross portions Siinto a plu-- rality of eonipartinents. A detleetor or inclined lip S52is eut 'from lthe outer part of each partition YFor one fpiarter ot theeireunlerenee. lient over to the next sneeeefh ing partition andprelierah jv fastened thereon, thus leaving a passage il?) tor rorn tohe urged through to the next eoinpartnient hy said delleetor 32 duringone quarter ot eaeh revolution. These detieetore are slightly heut orcurved. to torce the roi-u '..oivard the discharge end ot' the evlinder.as liest shovvn at ill in Fig. 3, to Ylin-ilituffe 'the ino\VA ing ofthe corn th'rtnigh said preliminarjv' heaters. These Cylinders aresuhstantiall v "uetion, except that one has urved at Sel in a right handn and the ether has theni t-izrved in a lett-hand direction, and thattile eyliuders retate in reverse directions, the c vlin- .l beingniounted with its sha'tt 2l in hearings in said cross liars 29 and C50,like the c vliinleil El.

yl`he hwpper 35 'tor reeeiving and retaining the nnpopped Corn fastenedupon the hoodl l. oi" the easing4 lzfv nieans of suitahle lxrafliets orthe lilv7 and a leed drinn o nnfasuring;l device 35 which is lined on asha l't 5l? is mounted lo rotate vth said sl .rft in the t said hopper,said shalt and feed N driven hv a spro lt i slnqtt. :i #hein Zi, andspreeke on the slet' 2l. separate toed por...

Ali 'l eaeh heating c vlixder provided in said leed drinn. and eachpoelfet has a n1ovable bottoni plate l2 inade adjuslahle 'uy a screwengaging into a threaded opening in shaft il?. to regulate the sJ/:e ot:aid

tively, (see Figs. 1 and 3) and a trap or gate 48 is mounted on a shat't49 at the junction or the tivo branches to alternatelyv close one branchor the other, as shown in VFigs. l and 5. The means for operating saidtrap ineludes a crank arm 50 fastened on the d: nn shat't 3T and havinga pin 5l which engages in one end ol' a linlt .32, and a crank :rin {il}fastened on the trap shaft 49 and having a pin .Tl vhieh engages in aslot in the other end of said link 52 (see Figs. i and lll. rlhe crankarms 5() and 5? are so astened on their shafts ill' and #19 and the slot5;: is inade ot such length that with each doi\'ii\va1'd revolution otCrank arin 5() the top ot slot .3o will push the pin 54 and its arin [i5downward and the gate or trap 4S over to close loraneh 46", as shown inFig. 6, d at the saine tirne when pocket ll disges in hraneh Llo; whilein Fig. l said .ins and linlt are shown directly after the uupleteddmvnvvard stroke, and the arrn vinging upward while the slot in link freot liorn 'l'roin pocket 4l .i lately il!) degrees over to elnse hraneh46. as shfwvn in dotted lines in F1. and perniit the second pocket 41"'on drum 3G to disehargze into lnaneh 46.

"i'he separate eharges ol' eorn or other frrain io he popped are Yted hv the poelets ot' the rotating drum alternately into the lai-arches land through their tunnels l? rt-ntridlj; inte the tirst heatingeon'lpartinem ot earh ryiinv'ler in snreession. The .first dellector31.. while :it ine lower end ol' they eivlinder and duringl the tirstupward moving one quarter ol the revolution enea the grain and nieves itthrnugh open- I into the nent compartment, where i next delleetorengages the grain during` one quarter turn ot the` zievt revolution. a.s moving the grain step hy step through the eeinpartlnents andl'hrifugli the lest out le?` il?, in the discharge head r der. and intothe delivery spout at that end ot the housi the, inaiu popping'cylinder.

The main poppingl evlinder 6l preferahlv termed ot tine wire 'faune andprovided with heads l? and (35E tas:B ied respeetielj.v liv ineens otspiders 6l; and 65 upon a shat" titl fournaled in l'iearinss il and 6Rin guard pl.V (SO and T0 which are fastened to the tivo ends ot thelower part l5 ot the easing. Said shaft is driven ley an attarhe-l worinwheel 7l actuated loy a worm 72 provided on a drive shaft 73 which isrotated by an;v suitable source of power and is mounted in Hill brackets74 fastened on the guard plate 69. A sprocket 75 is mounted to rotatewith shaft 66 and the worm gear, and by means of a chain 76 drives thesprocket 77 fastened on the preliminary heater shaft 24, and also drivesthe sprocket 78 with its attached gear 79 mounted on a stub shaft 80which is rotatably mounted in cross bar 30, said gear 79 in turn drivinga gear 81 and therewith the attached shaft 24. Said drive gearing thusrotates the pre-heating cylinders in reverse directions, and as thesprocket 75 of the main cylinder shaft 66 has less teeth than thesprocket 77 and 78 and the main cylinder is larger in diameter than thepre-heater cylinders, said pre-heating cylinders will travel withconsiderably less circumferential speed than the main cylinder, therebygiving the corn a gradual and thorough preliminary heating.

A plurality of cross partitions 82 and 82 divide the main cylinder intochambers or compartments, thereby preventing the popping corn fromjumping any great distance lengthwise of the cylinder. Said chambers arealike in construction except the first chamber between the cylinder head62 and the next partition 82, this forming a receiving chamber or aspecially constructed preliminary popping chamber. A separator screen 88is mounted in this chamber and fastened to partition 8i? by any suitablemeans 83 (see Figs. 3 and Said screen begins a short distance, aboutthree fourths inch, from the cylindrical or gauze wall of cylinder 61 tolet the unpopped corn pass by it and extends spirally inward to a slot84 on a conical tube 85 at the center of said chamber for dischargingrcorn, which has been popped in the pre-heaters or which pops in thischamber, directly into the delivery tube 86 provided at the center ofthe cylinder. The screen 83 is curved forward at the inner portion 87adjacent shaft 66, to force the popped corn toward tube 86, and a spaceis left under said portion 87 for the free entrance of corn from spoutend 57. Said screen is of proper mesh to let unpopped corn pass throughtoward the outer part of the cylinder near to the source of heat.lnclined detlector plates 88 are mounted at the outer wall of saidchamber to move the unpopped corn toward and through the opening 89 inpartition 82 into the next popping chamber, and curved deflecting plates90 are provided at the outer part of each partition 82/ for movingI theunpopped corn step by step through openings 91 formed by said platesinto the succeeding chambers.

The delivery tube 86 is provided with spirally formed conveyor tiightsor screw' threads 92 for forcing the popped corn .speedily to the opendischarge end. These threads are formed in two longitudinally eX-tending halves each half fastened to a corresponding half on thedelivery tube, and said two halves of tube and screw threads being heldtogether' by rings 93 at the two ends of the tube. threads aresubstantially ljoined Fig. 4) with a narrow space 94 left between themfor receiving the thin metallic deflecting lips 95 turned inward fromone side of each half of the delivery tube for preventing the poppedcorn delivered in said tube from falling out through the longitudinalintake slots 96. Several rows of openings 97 are provided in said tubefor the unpopped and small kernels to drop back into the cylinder. Tierods 98 and spacing sleeves 99 hold the par titions 82 and 82 and thecylinder heads 62 and 63 together and in position.

Means are provided in each popping chamber or compartment for picking upthe popped corn in that chamber and delivering it into the delivery tube86. Said means comprises one or more main pick-up screens, two suchscreens being preferably used in the average cylinder (see Figs. 4 and9), a primary screen 101 extending spirally from the outer wall of thecylinder to the intake slot 96 on tube 86, and a secondary screen 102beginning a short distance from said outer wall and extending spirallyinward to a second intake slot 96 on tube 86. The spaces between theouter end of said secondary screen and the out-er wall is about threefourths inch and is provided to let the unpopped corn pass freely alongthe outer cylinder wall, more than one such secondary screen will beused in the large cylinders.

ln addition to the two main pick-up screens I also use one or moreintermediate or auxiliary screens 103, as shown in the moditied form inF ig. 9. These auxiliary screens are placed intermediate the mainscreens 101 and 102', and are curved spirally inward beginning a shortdistance inward from the outer wall, like the secondary screens 102',and extending to about an inch from the succeeding main screen todeliver the popped corn thereon. Several auxiliary screens arepreferably used in the larger cylinders to lead the corn onto theseveral main screens for speedily discharging the corn into the deliverytube.

Means is provided in the form of shields 0l for deflecting the directheat from the burners, said shields being placed between the pick-upscreens and the outer wall of the cylinder and are fastened to thepartitions by means of rivets 105 passing through ears of said shields,or in any suitable manner. These shields prevent the corn from beingscorched and injured.

The modified form shown in Fig. 9 is similar in construction to the formabove described,.with the exception of the additional auxiliary piek-upscreens, said form The two halves of the containing detlectors 90.passages 91. tie rods Jl-i. sleeves 953. and shields itil with tasteningmeans 105.

Pick-up screens are constructed to extend the entire length of theA mainpopping portion ot' cylinder G1. Slots 107 and 108 are provided in theintermediate partitions for inserting the screens 101 and 102respectively. said screens being inserted in said slots from thedischarge end ot the cylinder betore the cylinder head 655 has beenfastened in position. and are held in place between said cylinder head(i8 and the tirst partition 82 by the fastening ot tie i'ods 98. Thesescreens are thus readily removed and rcplaced by removing the tie rodsand the cylinder head (i3 and the adjacent parts and 17 of the casing.

.i spout i119 is provided on the casing part 15 for delivering thepopped corn from the tube 86. and a waste opening' 11i() is Vprovided incylinder head il?) r short distance from the outer wall tor dischargingaccumulation ot waste corn :ind material through a waste spout lllitllesied :it lower end ot the casing.

The means for heating the cern wosiiprisef: main heating means 112.which may be in the 'torni of the usual gas burners or any othersuitable means. preferably arranged crossivise under the upwardrevolving quai'- ter ot the main cylinder and liirtlier coniprisesadditional heating members 113. one being placed lengthwise under theupward volving quarter otI each pre-heating cylinder. which members mayalso lie in the torni ot as burners. The main .members or burners 112are provided with perforated heating fingers 114 extending lengthwise ofthe cylinder and nearly joining with their ends. and a valve 115 isprovided for each burner tor regulating it separately to finish poppingthe corn properly as it progresses through the popping chan'ibers ofsaid main cylinder. llach of the hurneis 113 under the preheatingcylinders preferably has the gas openings made largei' and nearertogether at the discharge end ot' the cylinder than at the receivingend. as shown at 116 and 11G in Fig. 3. to provide an increasing heatunder the corn as it progresses through the preheai'ing cylindersbringing it gradually to the popping stage. The burners under theseveral pre-heaters are connected by a cross pipe 117. preferably placedatthe receiving end of the machine as shown` and are provided withcontrol valves 118 at this end ot the machine. These main and auxiliaryburners are connected in any suitable manner to any convenient supplymain oi' mains.

The heat from the main burners 112 is etlective 1n heating the corn inthe pre-heating cylinders, but is not fully sutiicient therefor,wherefor a heater 113 is placed under each pre-heating cylinder toprovide direct heating thereot and exact control of the heat to tarnishthe exact amount ot heat desired. The heat in these cylinders may thusbe raised siilliciently to begin popping the corn in these cylinders.and may be raised to pop said corn to any desired extent or degreetherein. in view ot the fact that the pick-up ine-ans S3 in thepreliminary popping chamber ot the main popping cylinder has beenprovided to gather popped corn and deliver it directly through its coneinto the delivery tube 8G for rapid delivery troni the machine. whilethe iinpopped corn is dropped through said screen 83 to the outer wallot the cylinder 61 and subjected to the dii-eri heat ot the main burners112.

rlll-.c operation of the various parts of the machine has been explainedwith the description of said parts. and will be apparent therefrom. ltwill also he apparent that with the valve controlled heaters 113 anydegree ot heat may lie applied to cylinders l2 and that the coi-ntherein may be heated n anv degree, and brought to any degree ofpopping. lt is also apparent that the progress ot the corn through theentireniacliine gradual and the corn is subjected to a graduallyincreasing heat through the machine. thiis assuring a thorough and mostcomplete popping thereof. and that the popped corn is completelyseparated from detective kernels and waste and is speedily dischargedtrom the machine in a continuous stream.

lVhile herein is illustrated and described the preterred torni otconstruction for carrying this invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing trom the spirit ot theinvention. l. therefore. do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails ot construction set forth. but desire to avail myself ot suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A popping machine comprising a plurality of pre-heaters, a hopperprovided with a rotary feed drum. a plurality of pockets in said drum tocorrespond to the number of preheatei's. means tor adjusting the size ofeach pocket. and means for feeding the charge troni each pocltct inrotation to its corresponding pi'cheater.

2. A popping machine comprisingr a plurality of similar preheatingcylinders, each containing a plurality ot similar compartments andhaving means therein to move grain intermittently through saidcompartments, and adjustable hopper means for -feeding a charge ot grainto each of said cylinders intermittently and in succession.

2l. it popping machine comprising a plurality of preheating devices7each being pro- 12 ivi vided with a plurality of similar compartmentsand having means therein arranged to move grain intermittently fromv onecompartment to the other through said machine.

4. A. l'iopping machine comprising a plurality ot preheating devices.each provided with a plurality of similar compartments having meansarranged to move grain intermittentiy through said compartments, and amain popping' device continuously receiving the heated grain from saidpreheaters.

5. ln a popping' machine. a prcheater provided with a series ofpartitions forming a series ot similar compartments. a deticcting memberextending' from cach partition to more the grain through an openingvprovided in one ot the partitions tor ghw ing the grain an intermittentmovement from compartment to compartment.

(i. ln a popping machine. a ilireheating cylinder provided with w'osspartitions forming a series of like compsn'tmcnts. a dcflecting lip cut'from each partition and bent to join the succeeding partition therebyforming an opening in each partition through which the grain is urged bythe preceding lip during a part ot each revolution of said cylinder.

7. ln a popping machine. a preliminary heating cylinder. a series ofpartitions torming a series of compartments in said cylinder. means onsaid partitions for moving said grain gradually through saidcompartments. and heating means adjacent said c vlinder provided withmeans tor increasing the heat toward the discharge end of said cylinder.

S. A popping machine comprising a preheating device for heating thegrain to a popping condition. heating means with control means thereonadjacent said preheating device tor directly and properly heating thesame, popping means for receiving the heated grain from said device. andadditional controllcd heating means for heating both the preheatingdevice and the poppingr means.

0. A popping machine comprising a preheating device for heating thegrain to a popping Condition. direct heating means provided adjacentsaid device.` popping means for receiving the heated grain from saiddevice. and heating means for directly heating said popping means andfor indirectly heating said preheating device.

l0. A popping machine comprising a preheating cylinder, means extendinglongitudinally along said cylinder for directly heating the same, a mainpopping cylinder for receiving said heated grain, means for directlyheating said main popping cylinder and for indirectly heating saidpreheating cylinder. and separate control means for cach ol' saidheating means.

ll. A popping machine comprising a prehcating cylinder having meanstherein for gradually moving the grain therethrough, a popping cylinderprovided with a preliminary popping chamber and means for gradualladvancing' the nnpopped grain. means in said popping cylinder lorrapidly delivering the popped gre-in. and means for condncting poppedgrain from said preheating cylinder and for transferring it through stalpreliminary chamber directly into said rapid dei\.'ering means in themain cylinder.

l2. popping machine comprising a preheatingi' cylinder. a main poppingcylinder provided with separate compartments7 means extend ing throughsaid main cylinder for receiving popped corn from each of saidcompartments and conveying it rapidly out et' said machine. means forconducting the heated corn trom said preheater into said main cylinder.and means in the receivingr compartment ot said main cylinder fordelivering poplxied corn from said preheater directly into said rapidconveying means and the unpopped corn into the next. compartment.

lil. A popping machine comprising a pi'climinary heating cylinderprovided with means for gradually moving' grain therethrough and tordually heating the same, a main popping cylinder provided with apreliminary popping chamber and a series of similar compartmentsconnected therewith. means in said main cylinder for rapifllv deliveringpopped grain, means in each compartment for picking up opped grain andplacing it in said delivering means. and means for conveying` grain fromsaid heating cylinder centrally through said preliminary chamberdirectly into said delivering means.

14. A popping machine comprising a preliminary heating cylinder and apopping cylinder receiving heated grain therefrom, a preliminary poppingchamber in said popping cylinder. a plurality of popping compartmentsconnected therewith. means for delivering heated grain from saidpreheating cylinder into said chamher. and means for picking up poppedgrain and delivering it rapidly from said machine.

ln testimony whereof l. (Hammer: A. los'r. the administrator of theestate of Nathaniel B. Post. deceased. have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CLARENCE A. POST, Administrator of the Estate 0f Nathaniel B. Post,Deceased. Witnesses FREDA C. APPLETON, JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs.

